Variable-speed mechanism for chainless bicycles.



F. H. RICHARDS. VARIABLE SPEED MEGHANISM FOR GHAINLESS BIOYGLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1898. RENEWED 0GT.11, 1905. 783 PatentedSept. I5, 1908.

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B. H. RICHARDS. VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM FOR GHAINLESS BIGYGLES.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 20, 1898. RENEWED 0OT.11, 1905.

898,783. Patented Sept. 15,1908.

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P. H. RICHARDS. VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM FOR OHAINLESS BIGYGLES.

APP-LIOATIION FILED APR. 20, 1898. RENEWED OUT. 11, 1905.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

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F. H. RICHARDS.

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VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM FOR GHAINLESS BIG APPLICATION FILED APR. 20,1898. RENEWED OUT. 11, 1905.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

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F. H. RICHARDS. VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM FOR OHAINLESS BIGYGLES'.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 189B. RENEWED 0011 1, 1905. Patented Sept.15, 1908.

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1H: "mm/s PETERS ca. wAs-nucrurv, at c FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD,CONNECTICUT.

VARIABLE-SPEED MECHANISM FOR CHAINLESS BICYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

Application filed April 20, 1898, Serial No. 678,235. Renewed October11, 1905. Serial No. 282,323.

To all whom tt'may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANoIs I-I. RICHARDS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVariable- Speed Mechanism for Chainless Bicycles, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to velocipedes, and more particularly to thatclass thereof designated as geared bicycles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved chainlessbicycle, the

- gear of which can be readily changed from a partly sectional view, ofthe rear portion of high to a low one, or vice versa, or renderedinoperative by the rider Without stoppage of the wheel, so that in use ahigh gear can be used for level roads, a low gear for hills and unevenroads, and the Wheel thrown out of gear, and thereby the turning of thepedals by the driving-wheel is prevented, for coastmg.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved organizationof changeable or variable speed driving-mechanism embodying bevel-gearsand an adjustable connector, which can be readily adjusted, and will becompletely shielded and protected from dust and dirt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bicycle having drivingand driven mechanisms, said driving-mechanism embodying changeablegear-mechansim, and being so constructed and supported that any strainimparted to the pedal shaft, or any play thereof relative to itsbearings, will not affect the proper operation of such drivingmechanism,said driving and driven-mechanisms having an adjustable connectionintermediate thereof.

In the drawings accompanying and form ing part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed in ac cordancewith this invention, parts of the wheels being broken away. Fig. 2 isplan,

the bicycle shown in Fig. 1, a part of the crank-hanger gear casingbeing broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view thereof takenin line aa Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the crank-hanger gearcasing detached, the driving-gear-mechanism being shown in dotted lines.tional view thereof taken in line dd Fig. 4 and looking toward theright. Fig. 6 is an Fig. 5 is a cross secenlarged sectional view of aportion of the main driving-mechanism. Fig. 7 is an end view thereoflooking toward the left with a portion of the main driving-gear shown indotted lines and a part of the supplemental driving-gear broken away.Fig. 8 is a view of the gear supporting member or carrier. Figs. 9, 10and 11 are detail views of the variable speed shifting-mechanism. Fig.12 is an enlarged sectional view of the driven-gear of thedriving-mechanism and the supporting means therefor. Fig. 13 is a crosssectional view of said driven-gear taken in line cc Fig. 1.2. Fig. 14 isa side view detached of the crank-hanger casing. Fig. 15 is a crosssectional view thereof taken in line d-(Z .of Fig. 4 and looking towardthe right. Fig. 16 is a front view of said casing. Fig. 17 is asectional view of the lower end of one of the framing members. Fig. 18is a sectional view showing the connection between said framing memberand the crank-hanger casing. Fig. 19 is an underside view of theactuating means for throwing the changeable gear-mechanism into and outof operation on the line bb of Fig. 1. Fig. 20 is a side view thereof.Fig. 21 is a view illustrating the movement of said actuating means andits eifect on the shifting-mechanism; and Fig. 22, Sheet 1, is a View,on an enlarged scale, of the means for adjusting. the rear driven-gearstoward and from each other.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in thedifferent figures of the drawings.

This improved gear-mechanism comprises driving-mechanism (designated ina general way by A) comprehending a main drivinggear, a supplementaldriving bevel-gear, a bevel driven-gear, and changeable or variablespeed-mechanism intermediate said main and supplemental driving-gears,said variable speed-mechanism and supplemental driving-gear, in theconstruction shown, being mounted free or independently of thepedal-shaft; driven-mechanism (designated in a general way by B) alsocomprehending a driving and a driven bevel-gear supported to impartmotion to the driving wheel of the velocipede and adjustable connectingmeans (designated in a general way by C) intermediate said driving anddriven-mechanisms.

As a preface to a further description of this improvement, I desire tostate that the invention is applicable to all kinds of velocibearingsfor the pedal shaft.

the driving-mechanism carried thereby, can i be bodily removed from theframe. In one form thereof shown and described, this improvedcrank-hanger, which, as above stated, constitutes a casing for the maindriving mechanism, comprises an annular member or band 2 provided withtwo pair of cars 3, each pair having a transverse opening or aperture 4.These ears are provided with convex faces 5 for the reception of theconcaved or cup-shaped ends 6 of the upright framing members 7, whichfit over and completely inclose said ears, which members havetransversely apertured projections 8 adapted to extend intermediate saidears, and may be secured thereto by tapering bolts or pins 9 carryingnuts, whereby said framing members and band are rigidly clamped inposition. The annular band 2 is provided with a removable. plate 10 ateach side thereof, whereby the mechanism inclosed within said casing isshielded and protected from dust and dirt. This casing is provided witha tubular hub 12 having flanged ends 12 for the reception of the pedalshaft 13 which is provided with a suitable adjusting cone 14 at one endthereof. The flanged ends 12 support removable ball cups 15 carrying theusual ball The hub 12 is shown supported by a bracket 16 preferablyformed as a part of the annular band 2, and said bracket forms apartition dividing said casing throughout the major part thereof intoseparate chambers, in one of which chambers is carried the maindriving-gear 17, which is shown mounted on and secured to the pedalshaft for rotation therewith, the hub thereof forming the fixed cone ofsaid shaft. This gear is provided with sets of internal gear teeth 18and 19 forming gears of different diameters carried by one web, each setof teeth being preferably formed on the interior of a ring which may ifdesired be removably secured in position.

Supported independently of the pedal shaft, and disposed laterally ofand in parallelism therewith, is a gear carrier 20, one part of which isscrew threaded, as at 21 for the reception of the supplemental drivingbevelgear 22 having a correspondingly screw threaded and flanged hub 22.This gear carrier is provided at each end with cones in bearingengagement with suitable ball bearings carried by cups 23 and 24, one ofwhich, as 23, is shown supported by a flanged bracket 25, joined to thetubular hub and to the gear casing, while the other and adjust able cup24, is in threaded engagement with the wall of an annular opening in thecasing partition 16, said cup being maintained in position by a checknut. Both of these ball cups have axial openings, the opening of the cup24 registering with an opening 26 formed in the main driving-gear whensaid gear is or has been rotated in position for this purpose, so thatthe bearings for the gear carrier can be adjusted after removing thepedal and easing side cap at that side of the gear casing. Looselymounted on this gear carrier and in position to mesh with the teeth ofthe main driving-gear, is the changeable or variable speed-mechanismshown herein comprising a pair of spur gears 27 and 28 of differentdiameters, each meshing with one set of teeth of the internaldriving-gear 17. permit the proper disposition and operation of thisvariable speed-mechanism, the casing partition-16 is suitably cut away,as at 16. To throw one or the other of said gears into operativeconnection with the supplemental driving-gear, as desired, or to throwboth of them out of operative connection therewith, suitable mechanismis provided which may be operated by the rider at any time while thevelocipede is running. This mechanism,

which will be herein designated as shiftablemechanism, in the form showncomprises a longitudinally adjustable member 29 formed of two parts 29and 29 shiftable as a whole, and the part 29 of which is rotatablerelatively to the other. One end of this shiftable member 29 is mountedin a support or bearing 30 projecting inwardly from the plate 10, whilethe other end thereof projects into the axial bore of the gear carrier20. The part 29 may be provided with a recess for the reception ofafiange on the part 29", said recessed member preferably being made intwo longitudinally divided members, connected by a tongue and groove anda suitable fastening device or screw 29'. By means of this constructionthe part 29 is not only shiftable with its companion, but is rotatableindependently thereof. This rotatable part 29 carries a transverselyprojecting key 31 extending through a slot 32 in the gear carrier 20, sothat it is rotatable with said gear carrier, and is in position, whenshifted, to enter notches 33 and 34 formed in the spur gears 27 and 28.The adjacent sides of said gears are provided with annular recesses 33which form a passage 34 which will permit, when the key 31 is in itsintermediate position, both of said gears to rotate loosely on the gearcarrier 20 without imparting motion thereto, but when said key isshifted to one side or the other of its intermediate position, and intothe notch 33 or 34 of the gears, the gear carrier will be rotated withsuch gear to impart motion to the supplemental driving bevel gear 22,and through the same to the driving wheel of the bicycle. By theprovision of this annular pissage, it will be observed that the key isst completely disconnected from one gear before it can be shifted intoengagement with the other gear, thereby avoiding all danger of breakageof any part of the mechanism.

To shift member 29", and thereby the key 31 into engagement with one orthe other of the gears, suitable actuating means is provided, showncarried in position to be readily operated by the rider. In the presentconstruction this actuating means preferably comprises supporting means,such for instance as a c amping collar 35, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) whichmaybe secured to the seat-post framing member of the machine. Thisclamping collar is shown having a notched projecting member 36, andbelow the same an apertured ear 37 intermediate which is carried aresilient and shiftable actuator or handle 38 adapted to be seated inone or the other of the notches of the series, which are shown herein asthree in number. This actuator is secured to the upper end of a connector, such as a rod 39, projecting through said ear and into anopening of said notched member. The lower end of this rod projectsthrough the annular band 2, and into the gear casing, and carries an arm40, the opposite end of which is secured to a projection or stem 41formed on the shiftable member 29. From the above it will be seen thatby seating the actuator in the middle notch, when for instance it isdesired to coast, the shiftable member will be moved to carry the key 31into the annular passage 34 intermediate the two spur gears and out ofengagement therewith, so that while the driving wheel will, through thetransmittingmechanism, rotate the supplemental driver and gear carrier,the spur gears will not be rotated, thereby permitting the maindriving-gear and pedals to remain idle and avoiding all resistanceincidental to such mechanism. When the pedals are to be connected withthe wheel, the actuator is shifted into one or the other of the notchesof the series, whereupon the key will be carried into engagement withone or the other of the spur gears, as the case may be. In view of thefact that the key 31 cannot be shifted from its annular passage 34 so asto enter the notch of either of the spur gears until such key has beenrotated by the gear carrier, presuming that the wheel is running and thepedals are idle, into position to register with such notch although therider may have previously shifted the actuator, the connecting meansbetween the handle and shiftable member are constructed to yield so thatthe actuator can be shifted at any time, and when the key has beenrotated into position to register with the proper notch, it willimmediately spring or snap in position and form connection between thecarrier and the desired spur gear. The driven-gear of thisdriving-mechanism, which may also constitute one part of thetransmitting-mechanism, comprises a bevel-gear 42 (see Figs. 3 and 12)shown provided with a relatively long hub 42 having a series oflongitudinal grooves 43, and a double-faced cone 44 in threadedengagement therewith. In the present construction this driven-gear isshown forward of the pedal shaft, and the annular band 2 of the gearcasing is provided with a hub 45 supporting an adjustable bearing member46 having an inwardly curved wall or flange 46 forming with the innerface 44 of the cone a race for suitable ball bearings for the gear. Thisadjustable member is provided with interior threads, in engagement withwhich is a cone 47 forming with the other or outer face 44 of the cone44 a race for the reception of suitable ball bearings. This cone 47, aswell as the adjustable bearing member 46, are maintained in position bysuitable check nuts 48 and 49 respectively, while the doublefaced cone44 is maintained in position by a check nut 50 shown in the nature of acap held on the gear hub. The tubular member 45 is closed by a removablecap, to permit the bearings and also the gear to be adjusted by turningthe adjustable bearing member 46, which is provided with pin holes forthis purpose, as is also the check nut 48 and cone 47.

The driven-mechanism (designated in a general way by B) comprises a pairof bevelgears and 56, one of which is rigidly secured to the hub 100 ofthe driving wheel 100, said hub having mounted thereon a bevel-gear 55,the hub of which is recessed for the reception of ball bearings, whichare maintained in position by a cone 57 carried on the wheel axle 102.The companion or driving-pinion 56 of this driven-mechanism issupported, by suitable bearings, in position to mesh with saiddriven-gear, and both of said gears are disposed in a dust-proof casing,one member of which is shown as a cap 58 fitted in the member 59 thereofwhich is mounted on the outer end of the wheel axle. This member 59consists substantially of a casing 60 and a rearwardly extending plate61, said casing being shown provided with a cup 62 forming with one hubend of the bevel-gear 56 a race for the reception of ball bearings. Theouter end of the casing is screw threaded to receive an adjustable ring63 forming one member of a ball-race and being maintained in position bya check nut 64. The outer end of this tubular casing is closed by asuitable cap 65 carried on one end of the tubular side frame, theopposite end of which is rigidly secured to the crank hanger casing. Theopposite side frame may be removably secured to the crank hanger casingby a coupling sleeve 66 threaded to engage a projection, not shown,formed on the casing.

To adjust the gears toward and from each other, suitable means isprovided (Figs. 8 and 22), shown herein as an eccentrically slottedmember 67 pivotally secured to the outer side of the rear gear casing,and in position to have the driving wheel axle project through the slotthereof, said axle carrying a lock nut 68, which maintains said slottedmember in its adjusted position. On unclamping this look nut 68 theslotted member can be shifted up or down, thereby shifting the rearwheel axle and therewith the gear carrier on the hub of the rear wheeltoward or from its companion gear. The opposite rear fork is alsoprovided with a simiar adjusting means 67.

The means (designated generally by C) for imparting motion from thedrivingmechanism to the driven-mechanism, in the present constructionthereof, comprises a side shaft 70 rigidly connected with thedriving-gear 56 of the driven-mechanism B, and longitudinally movablyheld at its opposite end in the driven-gear 42 of the drivingmechanismA. The shaft is shown in the present structure projecting forwardly ofthe pedal shaft, and through a transverse aperture in the shiftablemember 29 and into the gear 42 of the driving-mechanism, and it isprovided with a series of longitudinally extending ribs or flanges 71.By this construc tion, any springing of one part of the bicycle framingrelative to the other is permitted by said shaft, as by this mode ofconnection the shaft will constantly rotate with the gear 42, but islongitudinally adjustable relatively thereto, and may also be slightlylaterally adjustable thereto, if desired.

The rear fork members and 76, which are usually removably secured to theseatpost by suitable clamping means, are shown herein also removablyconnected to the hori zontal side frames by couplings 77 similar to thecoupling 66, so that by disconnecting the lower end of the member 75 anddisconnecting the upright framing members 7 from the crank hangercasing, said crank hanger casing, inclosing the pedal-shaft anddrivingmechanism, together with the side shaft and rear casing, exceptthe cap 58, can be quickly and readily disassembled for cleaning orother purposes.

In operation, when a high gear is desired, it is merely necessary toshift the actuator 38 into one of the notches, whereupon the key 81 willbe shifted into position to engage the spur gear having the smallestnumber of teeth, and as the same, if the pedals are in use, isconstantly turning with the internal main driving-gear, motion will beimparted to the gear carrier and to the supplemental driving-gear 22,and from thence, by means of the transmitting mechanism, to the drivingwheel 100. Then, however, it is desired to coast, it is simply necessaryto seat the actuator 38 into the middle notch, whereupon the key isshifted into the annular passage 34 and out of engagement with either ofthe spur gears, which, together with the pedals, may remain idle andthus decrease the frictional resistance to the speed of the wheel. If,however, a low gear is desired, the actuator 38 is shifted into theother notch.

In conclusion it will be seen that by this improved organization ofbevel-gear drivingmechanism, a wheel is provided which not only avoidsthe use of a chain, but also enables the rider to use a high or lowgear, as desired, and at the same time permits the gears to be throwncompletely out of operation, thereby to permit the wheel to run free forcoasting. It will also be seen that by this improved organization andassemblage of gear-mechanism, the springing of one part 3 of the framingrelative to the other has no effect whatever to separate theintermeshing gears, and that the major portion of the maindriving-mechanism embodying the variable speed gear-mechanism is carriedfree and independent of the pedal-shaft, so that any adj ustment thereofor shifting of such shaft will not affect such gear-mechanism, thisbeing so especially in view of the fact that the internal maindriving-gear and the intermeshing gears are spur gears. In'other words,the main driving-gear may be more or less shifted without interferingwith the intermeshing of the teeth, which could not be the case with thebevel-gears, as they must have a rigid non-movable support, whereby theywill be maintained in perfect mesh at all times.

It will be understood that the gearing may be readily changed to give ahigher or lower gear, if desired, than that shown herein.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a casing havinginteriorly a hub provided with a projecting bracket, the latter beingconnected to the casing, of a driving shaft mounted in said hub;differential gears carried by said driving shaft; a gear carrierjournaled in the bracket and casing; gears of different sizes looselymounted on said gear carrier and meshing with the shaft differentialgears; a gear fixed to said gear carrier; a driven shaft having a. gearin mesh with said fixed gear; and a clutch for locking the desiredlooselymounted gear to the gear carrier.

2. The combination, with a pedal-shaft, of a casing having a hub inwhich said shaft is mounted; a difierential gear secured to thepedal-shaft and inclosed by the casing; brackets projecting from the huband the casing; 'a tubular gear-carrier journaled in said brackets; agear fixed to said gear-carrier; gears of different sizes looselymounted on the gear-carrier; a clutch; a shiftable member working in thetubular gear-carrier and serving to actuate said clutch; and meansconnecting the fixed gear on the gearcalglrier with the driven wheel ofthe velocipe e.

3. The combination, with a casing having a partition and a hub, of apedal-shaft mounted in the hub; an internal gear having a series of setsof teeth, one set of difierent diameter from another set, secured to thepedalshaft and mounted in one of the compartments of the casing; agearcarrier journaled in a bracket projecting from the hub and in saidpartition; a series of gears of different sizes loosely mounted on saidgear-carrier; a fixed I gear carried by the gear-carrier; a shiftablemember carrying a clutch for engagement with notches in either of thegears loosely mounted on the gear-carrier; means for ac tuating saidshiftable member; a side shaft carrying a gear at one end in mesh withthe fixed gear of the gear-carrier, and also having a gear at itsopposite end; and a drivingwheel the hub of which has a gear inengagement with the gear of the side shaft.

4. In a velocipede, the combination with a casing, of a pedal shaftmounted in the casing; gearing comprising sets of driving teeth ofdifferent pitch diameters carried by said pedal shaft; a gear carrierlocated forwardly of the pedal shaft; gears of different pitch diametersloosely mounted on the gear carrier and having clutch receiving notches;a shiftable member having a clutch pin; means for actuating saidshiftable member tocause the clutch pin thereof to engage one of theloosely-mounted gears or to assume an idle position between said gears;a fixed gear carried by the gear carrier; and gearing for connectingsaid fixed gear with the driving wheel of the velocipede, comprising arearwardly-extending side shaft located above the pedal shaft andoperatively connected with said fixed gear on the gear carrier.

5. In a velocipede, the combination with a casing having aninteriorly-located hub portion with a laterally-projecting bracket, of apedal shaft mounted in said hub; an internal gear having rings of. teethof different diameters carried by the pedal shaft; a gear carrierlocated forwardly of the pedal shaft and mounted in the bracketprojecting from the hub and in a part of the casing; loosely mountedgears of different diameters carried by the gear carrier; a clutch forlocking any of said gears to said gear carrier; means for actuating theclutch; a bevel gear fixedly secured to the gear carrier; a side shaftpassing through the casing above the pedal shaft and having a bevel gearat one end forwardly of the pedal shaft in mesh with the bevel gear onthe gear carrier; a casing surrounding said shaft; a bevel gear at theopposite end of said shaft; and a bevel ear on the driving Wheel withwhich said ast-named bevel gear is in mesh.

6. The combination with a casing having a partition dividing the sameinto separate compartments and also having an interiorlylocated hub, ofa pedal shaft mounted in said hub; a bracket projecting from the hub andhaving a flange portion; a gear carrier mounted forwardly of the pedalshaft in the fiange of said bracket and in a part of the partition, saidgear carrier having a slot to receive a clutch pin or key; a pair ofloose gears mounted on the gear carrier; a gear having sets of internalteeth of different diameters carried by the pedal shaft, said sets ofteeth being in mesh with the loosely mounted gears on the gear carrier;a shiftable member carrying a clutch pin for engagement with notches inthe loosely mounted gears; means for actuating said shiftable member; agear fixed to the gear carrier; a shaft passing above the pedal shaftand through a slot in the shiftable member and supported in front of thepedal shaft by the casing; a gear carried by said shaft and locatedforwardly of the pedal shaft; and means connecting said gear with thedriving wheel of the veloci ede.

7. In a velocipec e, the combination with a casing having a partition orcross web and also having a hub supported at one end by the web, of apedal shaft mounted in said hub; caps for closing the ends of thecasing; a gear secured to the pedal shaft and located on one side ofsaid web; a driving wheel; and means located on the other side of theweb and supported thereby and by the casin for connecting said gear tosaid driving wheel.

8. In a velocipede, the combination with a casing having a partition orcross-web and a hub projecting from and integral with said partition,said hub having a laterally-proj ecting bracket also uniting it with theinterior of the casing, of a pedal shaft mounted in said hub; a gearsecured to said pedal shaft; a gear carrier located forwardly of thepedal shaft parallel to the hub and mounted in the bracket projectingtherefrom and in said partition; a gear carried by said gear carrier;and mechanism connecting said gear with the driving wheel of thevelocipede.

9. In a driving mechanism for a velocipede, the combination with arevoluble gear carrier and with means for supporting the same; of a pairof gears of different diameters loosely mounted on said gear carrier,each of said gears having a notch; a two-part shiftable member bothparts of which are mounted concentrically with the gear carrier, one ofsaid parts being rotated therewith and the other part being fixed fromrotation; a clutch pin or key carried by said shiftable member; a deviceconnected with said shiftable member; and a flexible actuator rodcarrying an arm connected with said device.

10. In a velocipede, the combination, with a casing having a partitiondivided into separate compartments and also havin a hub connected tosaid partition, of'a pedal-shaft mounted in said hub a tubulargear-carrier having conical ends and mounted in supports projecting fromthe hub; ball-cups secured in said supports; balls interposed betweenthe conical ends of the gear-carrier and said cups; an internal gearhaving sets of teeth of different diameters secured to the pedal-shaft;gears of different diameters loosely mounted on the gear-carrier andhaving notches; a shiftable member movable back and forth in thegear-carrier; a clutchpin or key carried by said shiftable member; afixed gear carried by the gear-carrier; a side shaft passing through theshiftable member and having a gear in engagement with said fixed gear;and means for connecting said side shaft with the driving-wheel of thevelocipede.

11. In a bicycle, the combination of a pedal shaft mounted in bearings;a main driving-gear carried thereby and having two sets of internal gearteeth; an axially bored peripherally slotted gear carrier mountedindependently and laterally of said pedal shaft on adjustable bearingsand carrying a supplemental driving-gear; a pair of gears looselymounted on said gear carrier and in engagement with said maindriving-gear, and each of said gears being provided with a pairofcommunicating recesses, one of greater depth than the other, saidouter recesses forming an annular passage intermediate said gears; adriven-gear supported by adjustable bearings and in engagement with saidsupplemental driving-gear; a two-part shiftable member having one endthereof supported in the axial bore of said gear carrier and having onepart thereof rotatable with said gear carrier and independently of theother part thereof; a key secured to said rotative member and shiftableinto one or the other of the recesses of the gears, or into the annularpassage intermediate said gears; and actuating means for operating saidshiftable member, and comprising an actuator, a lever secured to saidshiftable member, and a rod connecting said actuator and lever.

seavsa 12, A crank hanger gear casing comprising a band provided with anextension and with a pedal shaft hub a cap closing said extension; saidpedal shaft hub having flanged ends forming ball-receiving cups adaptedto form bearings for a shaft and said hub and band being connected by apartition wall, dividing said casing into separate chambers throughoutthe major portion thereof, said wall having an opening for the meshingof gears therethrough; a bracket connecting said pedal shaft hub withsaid band and having an annular flange in alinement with said opening ofthe dividing wall, in combination with a pair of removable axially boredside plates.

13. In a bicycle, the combination of a gear having a hub; and means forsupporting and adjusting said gear, and comprising an interiorlythreaded tubular support, an exteriorly and interiorly threadedadjusting member in engagement with said support, and provided with aninwardly extending annular flange encircling said gear hub, a cone inengagement with the interior threads of said adjustable member, and adoublefaced cone intermediate the annular flange of said adjustablemember and said cone and forming therewith a pair of races for thereception of ball bearings, said first-mentioned cone being movable withand also independently of said adjustable member.

14. In a velocipede, the combination with a casing having an internalweb, of a hub supported at one end by said web, a pedal shaft mounted insaid hub, means for closing the casing, a gear secured to said pedalshaft,

a driving wheel, and means for connecting said gear to the drivingwheel.

15. In a velocipede, the combination with a casing, a hub supportedWithin the casing, a pedal'shaft mounted in said hub, means for closingthe casing, a gear fast to the pedal shaft, a driving wheel, and meansfor. connecting said gear to'said driving wheel.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses C. A. WEED, CHAs. FINKLER.

